THE youngest People's Action Party (PAP) candidate to be fielded in 35 years has become a lightning rod for criticism, not just for her views and image but also because of her relative youth.
Hours after Ms Tin Pei Ling, 27, was introduced, critics online scrutinised and slammed her responses to media questions, and asked what someone her age could do for voters.
But she is not the first young candidate fielded by the PAP or the opposition in a general election to be scrutinised.
In the past three elections, the opposition has tended to field more candidates aged 35 and below compared with the PAP. In the May 2006 polls, for instance, the opposition had 13 such candidates - and six of them were aged 30 and below.
At that election, the PAP had three who were aged 35 and below. The youngest, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Christopher de Souza, was 30 at the time.
At the next polls, the opposition is also expected to field a slew of young faces.
The youngest unveiled so far has been the National Solidarity Party's (NSP's) Mr Raymond Lim, 27, slated for Tampines GRC. Financial adviser Mohamed Fazli Talip, 29, is expected to be a Workers' Party (WP) candidate. Others who may be fielded include the Singapore People's Party's (SPP) Alex Tan, 23; the Singapore Democratic Party's Mr Jarrod Luo, 26; and the WP's Mr Bernard Chen, 25.
Warehouse assistant Abdul Salim Harun can understand what the fuss over age is all about.
He was 24 in 2006 when he was part of the six-man WP team that contested Ang Mo Kio GRC against the PAP team led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
'People will criticise young candidates equally, regardless of whether they are in the PAP or the opposition. But in politics, you have to be thick-skinned and learn to take criticism. If the criticism is good, just take it - and don't be too bothered by the negative comments,' he said.
Mr Salim, who quit the WP and is now an NSP member, recalled that on house visits, 'people questioned and gave me strange looks because I was young. Some even said we'd lose our election deposit'.
But the WP team soldiered on, got advice from older members, experimented and used new media platforms, and secured 33.9 per cent of the valid votes.
He and other young opposition party members believe age should not be an issue if a candidate carries himself well and is sincere about serving.
Younger candidates can also better reflect concerns of younger middle-class voters, particularly on issues like housing affordability, job security and national identity, the SPP's Mr Tan said.
The NSP's Mr Lim - a Young PAP (YP) member in Tampines Central for six years - said younger candidates were energetic and had more drive to push for change.
During his time with the YP, and as a volunteer at meet-the-people sessions and community events, he also came to understand the needs of older residents.
Hong Kah GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad, who at 31 was one of the three young PAP candidates in 2006, said being young meant he did not have ready contacts and relationships to draw upon when organising projects and events: 'People think you don't have enough life experience; you're not even married and have no children. Can you solve my problems?'
But a determined young candidate can still succeed with hard work, he said.
One difficulty that younger candidates face, however, stems from the makeup of society today, said political observers.
In the nation's early years, Singaporeans took on more responsibilities faster and at a younger age because of prevailing circumstances. That has changed today, given the population's makeup.
The young today have time to hone their skills because of the buffer provided by older, more experienced Singaporeans.
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who became prime minister in 1959 at the age of 35, is a prime example of the post-war generation of politicians who earned their spurs at a young age.
The difference in attitudes about age also had to do with the population then, which was much younger and less educated, said National University of Singapore sociologist Tan Ern Ser. Now, it is ageing and better-educated.
'People are inclined to think the next generation is not as tough and as experienced as theirs. But succession planning is critical. And given that the social environment is a dynamic one, the next generation, with its new skill sets and paradigms, may actually turn out to be a better match,' he said.
Similarly, former Nominated MP Zulkifli Baharudin said Singaporeans have come to regard a leader as someone who is mature and educated.
But the PAP may have fielded Ms Tan as part of succession planning: 'They may want to groom young ones who they think are promising. They may not produce very much now, but in years to come may be good and effective leaders.
'The opposition, however, won't have the luxury to do that as candidates have to produce results from day one.'
This disparity in the treatment and expectations of young PAP and opposition candidates could also be behind the furore over Ms Tin. Critics feel she will get an easy ticket into Parliament without having to sweat it out in a contest.
Said the SPP's Mr Tan: 'Younger PAP candidates tend to go through the GRC route. If they go to a safe GRC like Marine Parade, they may get a walkover. Is that really an election? But for young opposition candidates, it's not a sure win.'
Ms Tin is expected to be fielded in Marine Parade GRC, anchored by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. It has been uncontested since a by-election there in 1992.
Hours after Ms Tin Pei Ling, 27, was introduced, critics online scrutinised and slammed her responses to media questions, and asked what someone her age could do for voters.
But she is not the first young candidate fielded by the PAP or the opposition in a general election to be scrutinised.
In the past three elections, the opposition has tended to field more candidates aged 35 and below compared with the PAP. In the May 2006 polls, for instance, the opposition had 13 such candidates - and six of them were aged 30 and below.
At that election, the PAP had three who were aged 35 and below. The youngest, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Christopher de Souza, was 30 at the time.
At the next polls, the opposition is also expected to field a slew of young faces.
The youngest unveiled so far has been the National Solidarity Party's (NSP's) Mr Raymond Lim, 27, slated for Tampines GRC. Financial adviser Mohamed Fazli Talip, 29, is expected to be a Workers' Party (WP) candidate. Others who may be fielded include the Singapore People's Party's (SPP) Alex Tan, 23; the Singapore Democratic Party's Mr Jarrod Luo, 26; and the WP's Mr Bernard Chen, 25.
Warehouse assistant Abdul Salim Harun can understand what the fuss over age is all about.
He was 24 in 2006 when he was part of the six-man WP team that contested Ang Mo Kio GRC against the PAP team led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
'People will criticise young candidates equally, regardless of whether they are in the PAP or the opposition. But in politics, you have to be thick-skinned and learn to take criticism. If the criticism is good, just take it - and don't be too bothered by the negative comments,' he said.
Mr Salim, who quit the WP and is now an NSP member, recalled that on house visits, 'people questioned and gave me strange looks because I was young. Some even said we'd lose our election deposit'.
But the WP team soldiered on, got advice from older members, experimented and used new media platforms, and secured 33.9 per cent of the valid votes.
He and other young opposition party members believe age should not be an issue if a candidate carries himself well and is sincere about serving.
Younger candidates can also better reflect concerns of younger middle-class voters, particularly on issues like housing affordability, job security and national identity, the SPP's Mr Tan said.
The NSP's Mr Lim - a Young PAP (YP) member in Tampines Central for six years - said younger candidates were energetic and had more drive to push for change.
During his time with the YP, and as a volunteer at meet-the-people sessions and community events, he also came to understand the needs of older residents.
Hong Kah GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad, who at 31 was one of the three young PAP candidates in 2006, said being young meant he did not have ready contacts and relationships to draw upon when organising projects and events: 'People think you don't have enough life experience; you're not even married and have no children. Can you solve my problems?'
But a determined young candidate can still succeed with hard work, he said.
One difficulty that younger candidates face, however, stems from the makeup of society today, said political observers.
In the nation's early years, Singaporeans took on more responsibilities faster and at a younger age because of prevailing circumstances. That has changed today, given the population's makeup.
The young today have time to hone their skills because of the buffer provided by older, more experienced Singaporeans.
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who became prime minister in 1959 at the age of 35, is a prime example of the post-war generation of politicians who earned their spurs at a young age.
The difference in attitudes about age also had to do with the population then, which was much younger and less educated, said National University of Singapore sociologist Tan Ern Ser. Now, it is ageing and better-educated.
'People are inclined to think the next generation is not as tough and as experienced as theirs. But succession planning is critical. And given that the social environment is a dynamic one, the next generation, with its new skill sets and paradigms, may actually turn out to be a better match,' he said.
Similarly, former Nominated MP Zulkifli Baharudin said Singaporeans have come to regard a leader as someone who is mature and educated.
But the PAP may have fielded Ms Tan as part of succession planning: 'They may want to groom young ones who they think are promising. They may not produce very much now, but in years to come may be good and effective leaders.
'The opposition, however, won't have the luxury to do that as candidates have to produce results from day one.'
This disparity in the treatment and expectations of young PAP and opposition candidates could also be behind the furore over Ms Tin. Critics feel she will get an easy ticket into Parliament without having to sweat it out in a contest.
Said the SPP's Mr Tan: 'Younger PAP candidates tend to go through the GRC route. If they go to a safe GRC like Marine Parade, they may get a walkover. Is that really an election? But for young opposition candidates, it's not a sure win.'
Ms Tin is expected to be fielded in Marine Parade GRC, anchored by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. It has been uncontested since a by-election there in 1992.
